The second-year Miami Dolphins defensive end is using OTAs to make up for an injury-riddled rookie season. His target is to parlay this offseason's work into a starting job. Here's the problem. Olivier Vernon, the man Jordan is trying to unseat, practically used the same strategy to establish himself as a starter last season after his rookie year in 2012.

"I'm healthy and I'm coming into an organization and a system that I'm familiar with now," Jordan said. "I'm just more comfortable. I'm out there and it's less thinking. As a rookie, most of the time, you're so worried about not messing up that you don't make a lot of plays. But now, I'm just playing."

Jordan has taken second-team snaps at defensive end, even getting a snap here and there at defensive tackle with the first team.

Most of his first-team opportunities have come at special teams. He's been used on both the kickoff and punt coverage units.

"Well, he's a big guy that can run," Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said about Jordan. "He's a concern for some teams. He can go cover a kick. He's a hard guy to block. He's got good length, so he can get off a block. He's a defensive player, so he tackles well. Then, he's very athletic in the return game."

Philbin continued by saying Jordan's speed allows him to stay with smaller players.

Jordan, despite being limited, was used in some pass coverage last season. Philbin said blocking in the return "to a degree" is similar to man-to-man defense.

The former Oregon star said playing special teams is something he has done since high school and even through college.

"I've started on every special team or on the defense, too," Jordan said. "It's nothing new, but, like I said, if you're able to come out here in this heat and practice that way, then game time is cake."

So many questions surround the Dolphins this offseason. How to utilize the 6-foot-6 Jordan is one of them.

Jordan played in bits and pieces of 15 games last season. He only registered 26 total tackles and two sacks.

Those typically aren't the numbers a team looks for out a player taken third overall, like Jordan was in 2013.

He wasn't the only one in his draft class to face challenges. Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher, the No. 1 overall pick, started 13 of 14 games but had struggles. Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, who was taken second overall, played five games before an injury ruled him out for the season.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle and fourth overall selection, Lane Johnson, played in all 16 games for a team which finished 10-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah showed promising signs with eight sacks over 14 games.

"My expectations for myself are to go out there and just do my best," Jordan said. "I understand that I can help this team in a lot of ways like we just talked about, as far as special teams and as far as defense."

Jordan added 15 pounds of muscle going from 250 pounds to 265.

The extra weight, Jordan said, hasn't affected his speed. He jokingly quizzed reporters asking if it looked like his speed has been diminished.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said last week the Dolphins have a "different" Jordan compared to last season. Coyle said the Dolphins came close to redshirting Jordan last year knowing they'd get limited snaps from him.

"Certainly, Dion wished he had a bigger rookie season and so do we, but we have great expectations for Dion Jordan coming into this season," Coyle said. "You cannot have enough great pass rushers and, we feel that with Dion at full speed, we have a prime-time player that's going to explode this year."